Add the asteroids and other points, and our natal charts tell the full story of how we perceive the world and interact with others.

Add the aspects (conjunctions, oppositions, squares, sextiles, trines and more), and we learn the nuances of how these parts of ourselves work to our benefit or detriment.

Add the houses, and we know in which life areas we will experience more emphasis depending on the natal placements at birth and the transits throughout life.

Sure, some chart configurations appear to be easier, like harmonious grand trines, or having a planet in the sign it rules, like a Mercury in Gemini. However, harmonious aspects can beget laziness, and planets in rulership may take their power for granted or go crazy, being unbridled.

So what propels us forward? What is the catalyst for growth?

As with most things in life, the hard parts of our charts really give us our strengths. The shadow aspects force us to bring out our greatest light.

As an astrologer, metaphysicist and consultant, I Am dedicated to personal development and evolution through integrating the shadow. In my practice, I created the Decoding The All: Shadow Integration reading in which I focus on Saturn, Chiron, and the North Node. Going deep into one’s shadow is not for the faint of heart, but definitely for the brave—those who want to get to the root indications of their challenges.

If you need to calculate your natal chart, just head here, pop in your birth details and you’ll get your chart instantly :)

Saturn – Your Restriction

Saturn is the planet of responsibility, structure, authority figures, and restriction. Its expression is to make things tangible in the physical, and it sets up boundaries and structures. Its urge is to limit and protect, and working with your Saturnian energy brings about self-reliance, self-discipline, and ushers you into true adulthood.

The Saturn Return, which occurs around ages 28-31, is probably the single most important transit of your life. Why else do some people feel such anxiety with turning 30? Because it is the time when you finally leave childhood behind. You’re faced with the fact that you will not be young forever. It’s a turning point when you are forced to handle unfinished business and create real structures upon which to build your life from a place of authentic maturity. Some people experience the Return as more destructive; others experience it as more constructive, depending on when they were born.

The aftermath of the Saturn Return can leave you feeling both wiped out and rejuvenated. What I know for sure is this: anything you do before your Saturn Return can easily be wiped out if it is not fortified with a good foundation. After you’ve experienced it, then you can truly begin integrating grown truths and approach life with a bit more wisdom than you had in your 20s.

Chiron – Your Deepest Wound

Chiron is the weakest point in your natal chart, and indicates the place where you encounter and have the opportunity to accept spirituality in your life. This asteroid/planetoid is the core wound carried into this lifetime, and represents the “wounded healer.”

The sign and the house in which Chiron is found represents the area of life where you have the greatest pain and the greatest fear. The most vulnerable parts of ourselves are often the most relatable, if we can just own up to them! So by understanding your Chiron placement, through facing, accepting, and integrating your deepest wound, you can then empower yourself, and in turn, heal others by recognizing the ONEness in everyday life.

The North Node – Your Destiny

The Moon’s North and South Nodes are mathematical calculations based on where the Moon’s orbit around the Earth intersects with the Earth’s ecliptic plane. The Moon’s Nodes pertain to your spiritual, soul lessons in this lifetime. Just as the Nodes are where the Moon’s path intersects with the Earth’s ecliptic, the Nodes are where the path of your soul’s development intersects with the path of your physical experiences.

The North Node has its opposite; the South Node. The South Node indicates the qualities you come here knowing, inherently. The South Node is your comfort zone; the strengths you take for granted. The North Node is your soul’s urge/destiny—it is what does not come naturally, and is what you are supposed to learn and integrate in this particular lifetime.

Since the Nodes work in opposites, they are concerned with the same themes, but approach them from different perspectives. For instance, the Aries/Libra Nodal axis is concerned with identity. Aries defines the self through individual expression, and Libra defines the self through relating to others. If you go around the entire zodiac, you will find that each pair of opposite signs pertain to the same issues, but in different ways.

The nodal axis is a spiritual compass, pointing you in the right direction. You don’t want to forget the South Node, but rather perfect it and use that as your platform to build up toward your North Node, which is what will truly satisfy your soul for this incarnation on Earth. Since the Nodes are not physical bodies, working with them takes conscious effort and a yearning to understand what your purpose is on this planet as a spiritual being having a human existence.

Integrating the Shadow with Saturn, Chiron and the North Node

It’s easy to look at the most lovely parts of your natal chart, but there are many aspects that can be depressing! However, it is through delving into the dark side where we find the keys to your liberation.

By focusing on Chiron (the wounded healer), Saturn (the karmic planet of restriction, fears, and maturity), your North Node (your destiny), and other sensitive and inharmonious aspects, we can unlock the code for what you specifically need to unearth, integrate, own, and heal so you can stand in your power and fulfill your purpose in this lifetime.

It’s funny—when babies are born, a lot of parents lament that there is no manual as to how to raise a child. But with knowing and using astrology to your advantage, you can definitely work heal your deepest wounds and empower yourself with the knowledge of your personal cosmic blueprint.

Again, if you need to calculate your natal chart, just head here to generate your chart for free.

About Chartreuse Tembo Barriere - Recognizing the ONEness in Everyday Life

Chartreuse Tembo Barriere is the creator of The Age of Eleven, a lifestyle brand dedicated to recognizing the ONEness in everyday life. She is the author of The Yoni Egg Shadow Integration Workbook: A 28-day Astrological Guide through the Womb Wellness Journey, and she owns The Crystal Pyramid Room in Chicago. Visit AgeOfEleven.com to book an astrology session with Chartreuse, and discover new metaphysical tools and services for #DecodingTheAll.

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